Thursday Thoughts returns once again and will be back every week throughout the season.

 We will rank the contenders in all four divisions and break down what has occurred since the regular season started in December.

 

Today's column is brought to you by our friends and partners at NHTI who have an Open House TODAY from 4 to 6 pm!

 

Division I

Division I Standings and Scoring Leaders

Gold Level Coaches/Programs: Kevin Gibbs of Bedford, Ricky Oliver of Salem, Nate Bracy of Goffstown, Kaylene Rogers of Exeter, Lani Buskey of Pinkerton, Lauren Gaudette of Manchester Memorial, and Frank Girginis of Alvirne

1. Bedford: The reigning champs haven't skipped a beat so far as they sit at 5-0. This new look Bulldog team that looks to get out in transition at any opportunity they get was a fun site to see on Tuesday night. Annie Zink and Sarah Muir are top-notch defenders who can generate a lot of opportunities on offense with their effort on the other side of the ball. This team is only scratching the surface it feels like.

2. Pinkerton: The biggest difference in Tuesday's loss to Bedford was a 16-8 second quarter that saw Sydney Gerossie pick up her third foul with three minutes to go. It is an interesting wrinkle that these teams will square off again on 2/10, something we don't normally see in Division I. Lani Buskey will go back to the drawing board and see if she can change or fine-tune a few things up for the rematch. Brooke Benz showed a lot of good flashes working off the dribble, adding another dimension to an already dynamic offense.

3. Londonderry: The Lancers currently average a division-best 73.7 points per game, and that was on display in their 63-35 win over BG. Londonderry has five players on the floor that can hurt you offensively. Gemma Murray looks like a different player as a sophomore, leading the division in scoring at 22 points a night. Her added scoring boost gives this team even more firepower. Sammie Sullivan and Brooke Eacrett have picked up where they left off last season as two of the best scorers in the division.

4. Salem: The Blue Devils have taken care of business through five games and now get a chance to make a real statement when they face off with Londonderry in a Friday night showdown. Both teams like to get up and down and score at a high rate, it may come down to who can get stops down the stretch. Lily George is having another all-state-level season to start the year and Lindsay Goetz and Ella Mosto have taken their games to another level. They have enough scoring punch to compete in this one, interested to see how this one plays out.

5. Windham: The Jaguars take the biggest jump from the pre-season rankings. They kicked off our coverage with a 69-48 win on the road at Dover and that certainly made a statement across the division. It seems like it is a different player every night for this team, making them tough to defend and to gameplan for. They can play through the likes of Lilah Boucher and Meghan Husson, but players like Rileigh Finneran, Sarah Guarnaccia, and Rileigh Finneran have shown they can lead the team on the offensive end when needed. This team defends hard and can force turnovers. Todd Steffandies has done a great job early on in year one at the helm.

6. Concord Christian: The Kingsmen have rattled off four straight wins after an opening night loss to Bishop Guertin. They seem to be adjusting to Division I just fine. Emma Smith and Lilli Carlile have carried a consistent scoring bunch to all four divisions the last four seasons and Kate Smith has been a nice plus on that end of the floor to pair with very good defensive play on the low block. A trip to Windham will be another big test and could be the game of the night in Division I.

7. Exeter: While they sit at 2-3, it has been an impressive start for the Blue Hawks, giving both Salem and Londonderry competitive games, something this group wasn't quite ready to do last season. Lexy Rogers has made a real leap leading the team in scoring so far. The offensive output as a whole looks to be on an upward trajectory.

8. Bishop Guertin: The Cardinals have a talented rotation, but certainly are still working on getting adjusted to one another as evident in their losses to Bedford (64-32) and Londonderry (63-35). This team is still on the younger side but has the potential to get back into the range of the top four. A stretch of Pinkerton, Dover, Exeter, and Salem over the next two weeks will be telling for this group.

9. Keene: The Blackbirds have looked solid so far starting the year 3-1. Harper Zalaski (18.5 ppg) and McKenna Nelson (17.0 ppg) are two of the top ten scorers in the division and have been even more impactful than they were a year ago.

10. Alvirne: We will get our first look at the 3-2 Broncos tonight as they take on a new-look Portsmouth team. Alvirne started the year strong with three straight wins, but recent losses to Pinkerton and Nashua South will certainly give them motivation to come out firing tonight. Ella Hartson and Courtney Anderson have looked like the one-two punch Frank Girginis hoped they would be coming into the year, and Lexi Floyd and Julia Adams have flourished with more opportunities this winter.

 

 

Division II

Division II Standings and Scoring Leaders

Gold Level Coaches/Programs: Dan O'Rourke of Hanover, Bryan Wall of Oyster River, Joe Vachon of Coe-Brown, and Greg Cotreau of Souhegan

1. Derryfield: In a very close Division II field, the Cougars are the ones who have stood out the most so far. Their 70-65 double overtime win over Pembroke to start the season has propelled them to a 5-0 start. Freshman Anna Fazelat burst onto the scene with a season-best 30 points in the OT win and has been a great addition to an already deep lineup. They beat out a very good Bow team on Tuesday behind 27 points from Tia Ferdinando. Derryfield can hurt you in a lot of ways, and their depth has shown so far.

2. Laconia: Laconia's 50-35 win over Milford sent a message to the rest of the division that this group is still a contender. Macy Swormstedt leads the division in scoring and has been instrumental for this team through four games. Ava Currier's 20-point outburst was a big help in the Sachems' 15-point road win.

3. Pembroke: Kate Stephens has taken the next step as a junior, leading the team in scoring at 17.4 ppg and filling the scoring void left behind by Annelise Dexter. The Spartans earned a great win over Pelham 62-42 to get them to 4-1 before a semifinal rematch with Laconia next Tuesday.

4. Pelham: Speaking of next steps, Sophia Guinazzo has done the same thing for the Pythons, upping her scoring production to a balanced offensive group. Grace Riley continues to provide consistency for the Pythons and has them looking like a real threat early on.

5. Milford: We will be in the house for a big one between the Spartans and Merrimack Valley on Friday night. Lexi Bausha has been a great addition to a team that is very unselfish and spreads you out. She adds a good scoring kick along with Avery Fuller, Ellianna Nassy, Claire Cote, and Shea Hansen. This guard-heavy team will need to use their speed against an MV team with good size. This should be a very fun matchup.

6. Oyster River: The Bobcats have rattled off four in a row after an opening night loss to Hollis-Brookline and have looked like the team we thought they would be so far. Vivian O'Quinn and Olivia Anderson are as good as they come in terms of one-two punches in this division and have given a lot of juice to this offense, especially without Caitlin Klein in the lineup. Wren Horne has been efficient in her role as a scorer and freshman Ashling Ferris has shown real flashes.

7. Bow: Peyton Vaughn has looked like a go-to scorer right away as a freshman and has helped the Falcons to a 3-1 start. They battled a very good Derryfield team right to the buzzer on Tuesday. This team is one to watch for.

8. Merrimack Valley: The Pride sit at 3-1 ahead of a top-ten matchup against Milford on Friday night. Kayla Smith has been a force to be reckoned with on the low block and could prove to be a mismatch problem against the Spartans. This is a sound basketball team on both ends of the floor, and that will be tested against Milford.

9. Hollis-Brookline: The Cavaliers started the year on the right foot with a 50-47 win over Oyster River and have shown a lot of growth from last season. Ana O'Donnell has provided a go-to scorer for Heidi Moore to turn to and this group as a whole has great length that can be disruptive defensively. 

10. Coe-Brown:  Coe-Brown broke a two-game skid with a 59-25 win over ConVal and now prepare for their toughest test of the year so far with Derryfield coming to Jennifer Chick-Ruth's second home. Jennifer Noni has nearly doubled the scoring production she put up last season through four games and has been a great compliment alongside Emma Lapierre who has shined as a sophomore and Hannah Meehan running the show from the point guard position.

 

 

Division III

Division III Standings and Scoring Leaders

Gold Level Coaches/Programs: Mike Mahoney of Hopkinton, Matthew Baird-Torney of Fall Mountain, Scott Currier of Gilford, Tom Bourdeau of Raymond, and Kevin Giannino of St. Thomas

1. St. Thomas Aquinas: The top eight to ten teams in this division have established themselves so far, and the Saints have looked like the most complete team out of that bunch. The three-headed monster of Genna Bolduc, Emilie von der Linden, and Emma Toriello have all had their fair share of moments, with Bolduc coming off a career-best 28 points in a win over Campbell, Bolduc winning the MVP in the Oyster River Holiday Tournament, and von der Linden pacing a win over Conant with 22 points, this team has looked as advertised.

2. Fall Mountain: A healthy Wildcat team sits at 5-0 and now start a very big three-game stretch with Stevens at home on Friday, and trips to Monadnock and Newport next week. Fall Mountain is the lone team to get the best of Newport to this point of the year (45-32) and will get another chance to prove they are back in contention. 

3. Newport: The Tigers are red hot offensively and the return of Taylor Fellows has made them even more dangerous. Zoey Lord has taken a massive step forward on that end of the floor and makes this group more dynamic. Monadnock will prove to be a good measuring stick game for Newport.

4. Monadnock: The Huskies are off to a strong 5-1 start and get a chance to redeem their only loss to Newport when they travel there on Friday. Bailee Soucia's return has been an impactful one, leading the team in scoring at 13.3 points per game. Marlee Carroll-Clough's 20-point performance in a 40-28 win over Stevens was big, especially with Shaylee Branon currently sidelined. Defense is the calling card for this team, and they will need

5. Hopkinton: The Hawks lineup continuity has shown in a 5-1 start, and their lone loss went all the way to the buzzer against Monadnock in a 53-50 loss. Shaylee Murdough's playmaking has taken an even bigger leap from her player of the year performance last season and Sydney Westover continues to control the glass, something that will be valuable all season long, coming off a near 20-20 game against Conant on Tuesday.

6. Gilford: Gilford is off to an impressive 6-1 start with marquee wins over Conant, Stevens and White Mountains. The Golden Eagles have carried over an impressive defensive effort that we saw last season, something that they hope shows their game with Hopkinton next Tuesday. The ball has been spread around just the way Scott Currier likes it, with Olivia Keenan, Skye Maltais, and Grace Kelly all showing they can lead the offense when needed.

7. Prospect Mountain: The Timberwolves are off to a 6-0 start under head coach Isaiah Anderson, with their most impressive win coming over Kearsarge 32-28 back on December 16th. Madelyn Howlett (14.5 ppg), Elena Munoz-Martin (10.8 ppg), Ava Foster (9 ppg), and Emma Foster (7.2) have shown they can score in double figures on a nightly basis. This group has maybe a few more weapons than some expected coming into the year.

8. Berlin: Berlin is off to one of the best starts we have seen from this program in the last decade. While they are 6-1, the goal for head coach Donnie Picard coming into the season was to compete with the teams ahead of them, they will have some of those matchups as we get into the later part of January. For now, they have shown improvement on the defensive end of the floor and Caitlin Kelley has emerged as a primary scoring option, averaging 13.9 points per game.

9. Conant: With the tough schedule they have had through seven games, I don't think the Orioles can be too mad sitting at 3-4. They have competed with the likes of Monadnock, St. Thomas, Gilford, and Hopkinton, but they will need to start winning these types of games down the line. Hannah Manley continues to impress, leading the team in scoring at 17.3 ppg.

10. White Mountains: It has been another injury-plagued start for the Spartans, but with Olivia Lorenz back in the lineup they should be ready to go on a bit of a run at 3-3. They battled a very good Division IV Groveton team to a 50-44 game on Tuesday and a 40-26 win over Berlin right after the winter break should be one that helps propel them forward. Emma Simpson has held things down in the scoring department averaging 10.7 ppg.

 

 

Division IV 

Division IV Standings and Scoring Leaders

Gold Level Coaches/Programs: Jim Tucker of Sunapee, Derek Tremblay of Mount Royal, Tim Haskins of Groveton, Duane Call of Colebrook, and Dale Prior of Littleton

1. Littleton: It is a perfect 6-0 start for the reigning champs with impressive wins over Farmington (60-31), White Mountains (66-32), and Woodsville (41-36). Now they get arch-rival Groveton in a Friday night showdown that we will have all the highlights of. These teams may know each other better than they know themselves at this point. Ella Horsch and Leah Poulton have continued their consistent scoring production we saw last season. This group has five scorers on the court at all times and will be a lot to handle for any opponent.

2. Groveton: The good thing for the Eagles is they have already seen the Crusaders in their holiday tournament and won that contest as well. While you can't put too much stock into that, it is certainly a confidence boost going on the road for Groveton. They have had a great 6-0 start in their own right, especially coming off a great 50-44 win over White Mountains on Tuesday. Delaney Whiting and Aspen Clermont haven't missed a beat from last season, but the x-factor so far has been Makayln Kenison coming on as a scoring option, currently sitting at 14.8 points per game which is second on the team. She could be a difference-maker for the Eagles this year.

3. Holy Family: We saw Holy Family make strides last season, but they have exceeded some of the expectations they had coming into the season already. They went on the road and beat Woodsville 33-28 in a very tough gym and got the best of Farmington 64-60 in their first game back from the break. Ryenn Pedone's 37-point outburst was a big factor in that win and she will continue to be a player to watch going forward.

4. Colebrook: The Mohawks are undefeated and also welcomed a new member to the 1,000-point club after Haley Rossitto's 29 points in a win over Moultonborough got her over the plateau last week. She leads the division in scoring at 27 ppg. They will travel to Woodsville Friday night in what should be an entertaining contest.

5. Newmarket: The Mules lone loss of the season came to the hands of the team right above them, but other than that they have continued their strong defensive play at 5-1. Amaya Beckles has found a real scoring touch, leading the team in scoring at 13.3 ppg and coming off a season-best 20 points in a 39-24 win over Franklin. 

6. Farmington: Farmington finds themselves at 3-2 and are coming off a bounce-back 61-25 win over Portsmouth Christian. 

7. Woodsville: The Engineers showed they could play against a team like Littleton right before the break. 5-3 is right around where they expected to be through eight games, and they get a chance for a marquee win with Colebrook coming to town on Friday. Paige Royer has been terrific providing 14.8 points per game and double-digit rebounds on a nightly basis. She is one of the lone paint presences in the division, something Woodsville will use to their advantage.

8. Franklin: Franklin has looked like the team we saw towards the end of last season. Their two losses come at the hands of PCA and Newmarket. This is a group that could use a big-time win on their resume, and they will have a lot of cracks at that throughout the year. Kourtney Kaplan has been dealing on the offensive side of the ball, averaging 24 ppg.

9. Pittsburg-Canaan: The Yellow Jackets are a team that has the ability to go eight or nine deep and not see much drop-off. They nearly got the win over rival Colebrook on Tuesday, narrowly dropping that one 44-41. They are disciplined on both sides of the ball and will be a team in the conversation late into the season. Alyvia Jaimes has been impactful stuffing the stat sheet and averaging a team-high 11.6 ppg.

10. Portsmouth Christian: PCA's most impressive win so far was a 23-point victory over Franklin right before the holiday break. Ava Buchanan is healthy and averaging 16.2 points per game. Her efforts have kept the Eagle offense flowing and opened up scoring opportunities for the likes of Jaela Stockbower, Emma Anderson, and Isabella Stevens.